By Jian Da

The comprehensive and objective coverage of the Sanlu milk powder scandal in the Chinese media shows that all levels of government have improved their ability to manage crisis situations; but urging the authorities to focus on prevention is more useful than praising their ability to deal with aftermath of a crisis.

The fact that the national inspection department was able to identify more than 20 brands of suspect milk powder in the days following the original Sanlu incident shows that a pro-active inspection regime could have prevented the problem arising in the first place.

It is not as if the Sanlu scandal is an isolated incident. It is simply the latest in a long line of crises arising from sub-standard food, drinking water and medicine. To take just one example, a recent bust by the Beijing Police revealed an entire criminal network of illegal pharmaceutical work and fake medicine production.

But if the government properly regulated the medicine market and strictly monitored the distribution chain, such crimes would be impossible; a far more important and satisfying result than bringing a few criminals to justice. Crisis prevention is more important to ordinary people than any amount of remedial measures taken after the event.

Regarding government progress in crisis handling, it is better to offer advice than compliments, since advice may lead to reflection and a greater willingness to get to the root of problems, whereas paying compliments simply whitewashes the previous negligence of the authorities. It’s true that compliments may boost morale, but all too often at the cost of feeding complacency.

The people have a right to expect that government and officials at all levels show genuine concern about the economy and the people’s livelihood, to the extent that they anticipate, prevent, and handle crises in a timely fashion, so that we can get on with our lives in a safe, reliable, equitable and comfortable society. Therefore, we can afford to be a little harsh in our assessment of the authorities, and demand that they get to work right now to find out how many other potential crises are brewing in the country.

(China.org.cn translated by Maverick Chen, September 21, 2008)